New Albany Roofing Blog

When was the last time you got up on your roof and checked if everything was in place and functioning well? Quite a while? Never? As far as roof maintenance is concerned, a good number of homeowners do not know what to do so they just do not get it done. Others adopt a ‘fix things when they break’ habit. This is quite unfortunate as roof maintenance not only improves your roof’s ability to protect your home, but also allows you to squeeze out every last bit of use before the roof finally bows down to age. So, what kind of maintenance do roofs require? Is it something you can do on your own or do you need the expert service of New Albanyroofers? Read on to get answers to these questions and more insight on roof maintenance.

Why Roof Maintenance is Important

Everyday exposure to sun, wind, rain, snow, and other elements takes a toll on the roof, causing it to wear and tear slowly. While there is no way of preventing a roof from aging, you can slow down the process with regular maintenance. Studies show that a roof is more likely to reach the full term of its expected life if it is properly maintained. With today’s roofs offering about 20 or more years of use, this is no small benefit. The best you can expect from a roof that is left unattended to, is about half the years of its promised lifespan.

Regular roof maintenance also gives you a chance to catch problems before they get too serious. In the process, you will secure the roof’s structural integrity and protect other fixtures in your home. For instance, a leak can be caught before it causes rusting of metal fixtures or rotting of wood components. Similarly, a small crack can be spotted and fixed before it grows or turns into a gaping hole.

Taking good care of your roof through regular maintenance also helps in maintaining the roof’s warranty. Most roofing companies state that warranties become void if damage is due to negligence poor roof maintenance.

How to Carry out Roof Maintenance

Roof maintenance comes down to regular check-ups done in the form of a thorough inspection of the roof. Here is a quick checklist of the steps involved in a roof inspection.

Checking every square inch, shingle, or tile of the roof’s surface for damage

Carrying out a detailed inspection of the roof’s flashings watching out for damage, holes, and corrosion

Checking gutters and downspouts for debris, blockage, and damage

Making sure that the attic’s ventilation and insulation systems are functioning well

At New Albany roofers, we recommend inspections at least twice a year. You can do the work yourself or hire a professional. A roofing professional will carry out a full preliminary roof inspection and also fix any problems found along the way.

When to Inspect Roofs

The general idea is to have roof inspections carried out 2 times a year. The exact dates of the inspections however will depend on several factors top of which is your geographical location. You want your roof to be able to weather your area’s worst season. For instance, in New Albany, summers are warm while winters are very cold and wet. So, the best time to call on New Albany roofers for inspection purposes is once before winter to ensure the roof is intact and once after the season to check for any damage that may have occurred.

Inspections should also be carried out after extreme out-of-the-blue weather like a bad storm, a tornado, or heavy downpour. Since these kinds of weather events can leave some serious damage in their wake, make sure a trained professional does the inspection.

Other instances that call for a roof inspection include right after significant periods of high moisture and upon the spotting of moss or algae on the roof.

When it comes to a roof’s performance, roof maintenance is as important as using quality materials or ensuring proper installation. Therefore, if you want to get the best out of your roof, getting in the habit of performing a little routine maintenance can go a long way to helping you achieve that goal. And, if you have already fallen behind on your roof’s maintenance, get professionals like New Albany roofers to do the first inspection. This is your best bet of restoring your roof to its former glory.